Vinyl ethers and epoxides photoinduced copolymerization with perfluoropolyalkylether monomers

Colloid Polym Sci. 2021;299(3):509-521. doi: 10.1007/s00396-020-04723-3. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Abstract

New perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) monomers, chain extended with different alkyl groups and functionalized with vinyl ether or epoxide end-groups, were employed, together with trimethylolpropane trivinyl ether or trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether, to produce fluorinated copolymers. The photoinduced cationic polymerization was investigated, and the PFPAE-based copolymer properties were thoroughly characterized. Interesting surface properties and two different values of refractive index were observed: thus, these fluorinated copolymers can be suitable materials for the manufacture of self-cleaning coatings and optical waveguides.

Keywords: Cationic polymerization; Perfluoropolyalkylethers; Refractive index; Sliding angle; UV curing.